Securing device, particularly for footwear

ABSTRACT

The device includes a base which is rigidly connectable with a first flap of an item of footwear; a pair of shoulders protrude from the base for the pivoting of a lever arm which is provided with a pivot for a support provided with a rachet system for engagement with a toothed tab. The support and the lever arm have first and second longitudinal slots which accomodate the pivot, which interacts selectively with seats defined on the shoulders. The tab is furthermore removably connectable with a second flap of the item of footwear. The device allows to achieve a rapid and easy securing and release of the first and second flaps and has a considerable safety during closure, which makes it free from accidental openings due for example to the contact of the lever arm with the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a securing device particularly usable forfootwear such as for example sports footwear for hockey, cycling,motorcycling and skiing.

It is currently known to use, for such footwear, securing leversassociated with a flap, which allow for example to tense a toothed bandwhich is rigidly associated with the other flap to be joined.

The problems which arise in the execution of these devices essentiallyconsist of the need to perform an optimum tensing of the band and arapid and easy release thereof.

As a partial solution to these problems, the Italian patent applicationno. 61949 B/78, filed on Dec. 15, 1978, is known; said applicationrelates to a lever closure device for ski boots which essentiallycomprises a lever which is rigidly associated with a flap of the upperand a substantially rigid toothed strap for connection between theflaps, which is tensed by the lever.

The peculiarity of this device consists of the fact that the strap isrigidly associated, at one end, with a flap of the upper and engages aratchet stop system which is articulated to the closure lever.

Although said device is undoubtedly valid, it has some disadvantages:first of all, actuation of the ratchet system is possible only once thelever has been opened, thus forcing the user to exert a considerableeffort in order to overcome the degree of securing set on the toothedstrap.

Secondly, it has been observed that accidental impacts of the free endof the lever, for example at the snow or at the ground, lead toaccidental openings of said lever and thus to slackenings of the toothedstrap, with consequent release of the flaps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is therefore to eliminate thedisadvantages described above in known types by providing a device whichallows to achieve the rapid and easy securing and release of the flapsof an item of footwear.

Within the scope of the above aim, an important object is to provide adevice which allows, if a toothed strap is used, tile optimumassociation of said strap with one of the flaps to be joined.

Another important object is to provide a securing device which is notsubject to accidental openings due to contacts of a lever arm withobjects such as the ground or the snow.

Another important object is to provide a device which allows tooptimally and easily adjust the degree of mutual securing of the flapsof an item of footwear according to the type of item.

Another important object is to provide a device which is structurallysimple and easy to industrialize.

Not least object is to provide a device which is reliable and safe inuse and has modest manufacturing costs.

This aim, these objects and others which will become apparenthereinafter are achieved by a device for securing a first flap and asecond flap of an item of footwear, as defined in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages or the invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment,illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the securing device according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device during closure, taken along themedian longitudinal sectional plane;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the device during partial opening, takenalong the median longitudinal sectional plane;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device during opening, taken alongmedian longitudinal sectional plane;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the device showing itscomponents.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the above figures, the securing device, generallyindicated by the reference numeral 1, is particularly usable forsecuring a first flap and a second flap, indicated by the numerals 2 and3, of an item of sports footwear, for example for playing hockey, forcycling, motorcycling and skiing.

Said securing device 1 comprises a toothed tab 4 which is removablyassociable, at an end 5 thereof, in a recess 6 defined on the secondflap 3 of the upper.

Said securing device 1 further comprises a first base 7, whichpreferably has a rectangular shape and which is rigidly associable, bymeans of through screws or rivets, with the first flap 2.

A pair of shoulders 8a and 8b protrudes from said first base 7 at thelongitudinal sides thereof; the shoulders have a first pair of holes 9aand 9b which have the same axis, and a pair of pivots 10a and 10b areprovided in the holes 9a and 9b for pivoting the tabs 11a and 11b whichprotrude from a lever arm 12 to the first base 7. Said pair of pivots10a and 10b also affect a second pair of holes 13a and 13b, both ofwhich are defined at the same axis on the pair of tabs 11a and 11b ofthe lever arm

A recess 14 is defined between the pair of tabs 11a and 11b and acts asseat for the temporary placement of a support 15 provided with a ratchetsystem 16.

The support 15 is U-shaped and defines a second base 17 from which apair of walls 18a and 18b protrudes laterally.

Said particular U-shaped configuration allows to accommodate the ratchetsystem 16 between the walls 18a and 18b.

Said ratchet system has a T-shaped body constituted by a head 19 and astem 20.

The head 19 protrudes from the lever arm 12 rearward with respect to therecess 14 and laterally with respect to the pair of tabs 11a and 11b.

A recess 22 is provided in the lower surface 21 of the stem 20 of theratchet system, which is directed toward the second base 17; said recessacts as a seat for accommodating an elastic biasing element 23constituted by a spring.

Said spring has an end which rests on a lug 24 which protrudes laterallyand inside the wall 18a.

Said spring is arranged coaxially to a pivot 25 which is arranged insidea hole 26 defined transversely to the stem 20; said pivot 25 alsoaffects a first pair of slots 27a, 27b and a second pair of slots 28a,28b which are defined longitudinally to the pair of walls 18a and 18band to the pair of tabs 11a and 11b respectively.

The tab 4 can be inserted between the second base 17 of the support 15and the ratchet system 16 and is provided with a plurality of teethwhich are engaged ratchet-like by the end 29 of the ratchet system 16which is opposite to the lead 19.

The ends of the pivot 25 selectively interact with stop means 30a and30b which are defined on the perimetric edge of the pair of shoulders 8aand 8b of the first base 7 which is directed opposite to the head 19 ofthe ratchet system 16.

The operation of the above described device is as follows: when the itemof footwear is used for the first time, the toothed tab 4 is disengagedfrom the ratchet system 16, thus allowing both the first flap 2 and thesecond flap 3 to remain spaced with no limitations at all.

Subsequently, the user, once he has put his foot in the item offootwear, causes the toothed end of the tab 4 to interact with theratchet system 16, pushing said toothed tab until a first securing ofthe first and second flaps is achieved; in this condition, the lever arm12 is in a passive condition, i.e. it is open.

The user then actuates the lever arm 12, subjecting the toothed tab 4 totraction to close the item of footwear.

Advantageously, in order to further adjust the securing action, it ispossible to actuate the ratchet system 16, by pressing on the head 19thereof, so as to allow the sliding of tile toothed tab 4, leaving thelever arm in closed condition.

This operation is thus allowed by virtue of the particular articulationof the ratchet system, which is independent of the closed or opencondition of the lever arm 12.

The angular position of the lever arm 12 thus does not limit thepossibility of varying the degree of securing of the flaps of tile itemof footwear.

The same operation can obviously be repeated on the other levers one ormore times, achieving, as a whole, the required degree of closure of theitem of footwear.

The securing device is furthermore safe in use, since it is not subjectto accidental openings due to hypothetical contacts of a lever arm withthe ground or with the snow: the ends of the pivot 25 are in factlocked, during the closure of the lever arm 12, at the stop means 30aand 30b.

In order to open the item of footwear and allow the user to remove hisfoot therefrom, before opening the lever arm 12, it is necessary toimpart a longitudinal translatory motion to said lever arm, for exampleby exerting pressure in this direction on the toothed tab or on theratchet system, so as to disengage the ends of the pivot 25 from the sopmeans 30a and 30b defined on the perimetric edge of the pair ofshoulders 8a and 8b of the first base 7.

This is furthermore allowed by virtue of the presence of the first andsecond slot pairs 27a, 27b and 28a, 28b defined longitudinally to thepair of walls 18a and 18b and to the pair of tabs 11a and 11brespectively.

It is then possible to raise the lever arm 12, achieving a partialrelease of the flaps, the ratchet system remaining connected to thetoothed tab.

Alternatively, the flaps can be released by acting on the head 19 of theratchet system 16, complete opening being achieved since the toothed tabdisengages from the end 29 of the ratchet system.

It has thus been observed hat the invention has achieved the above aimand objects, a device having been provided which allows the rapid andeasy securing and release of the flaps of an item of footwear.

The toothed strip used, by virtue of its temporary connection to a flapof the upper, can be easily replaced for example in case of wear orbreakage.

The presence of the stop means 30a and 30b which selectively interactwith the ends of the pivot 25 allows to provide a securing device whichis not subject to accidental openings due to hypothetical contacts ofthe lever arm with the ground or with the snow.

The materials and dimensions of the individual elements which constitutethe device may naturally be the most appropriate according to thespecific requirements.

I claim:
 1. Device for securing a first flap and a second flap of anitem of footwear, comprising a first base rigidly associable with saidfirst flap, a pair of pivoting shoulders protruding from said first baseand having pivotally connected thereto a lever arm, said lever armhaving a pivot connected to a support provided with a ratchet system forengagement with a toothed tab, said support having a first longitudinalslot, said lever arm having a second longitudinal slot, said firstlongitudinal slot and said second longitudinal slot accommodating saidpivot, said pivot selectively interacting with stop means, said stopmeans being defined on said shoulders, said toothed tab being removablyassociable with said second flap, said lever arm being provided with apair of tabs defining a seat for the temporary positioning of saidsupport provided with a ratchet system, said support being U-shaped anddefining a second base, a pair of walls for accommodating said ratchetsystem protruding laterally from said second base, said ratchet systemhaving a T-shaped body constituted by a head and a stem, said headprotruding rearward and laterally with respect to said pair of tabs,said stem having a free end, said free end of said stem interacting withsaid toothed tab and being directed in the same direction as the freeend of said lever arm.
 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein saidpivot is arranged at a hole, a first pair of slots and a second pair ofslots, said hole being defined transversely to said stem of said ratchetsystem, said first pair of slots being defined longitudinally to saidpair of walls of said support, said second pair of slots being definedlongitudinally to said pair of tabs of said lever arm.
 3. Deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the ends of said pivot selectivelyinteract with stop means, said stop means being constituted by recesses,said recesses being defined on a perimetric edge of said pair ofshoulders of said first base which is directed opposite to said head ofsaid ratchet system. .Iadd.
 4. Device for securing a first flap and asecond flap of an item of footwear, comprising a first base rigidlyassociable with said first flap, a pair of pivoting shoulders protrudingfrom said first base and having pivotally connected thereto a lever arm,said lever arm having a pivot connected to a support provided with aratchet system for engagement with a toothed tab, said support having afirst slot, said lever having a second longitudinal slot, said firstslot and said second longitudinal slot accommodating said pivot, saidpivot selectively interacting with stop means, said stop means beingdefined on said shoulders, said toothed tab being removably associablewith said second flap, said lever arm being provided with a pair of tabsdefining a seat for the temporary positioning of said support providedwith a ratchet system, said support being U-shaped and defining a secondbase, a pair of walls for accommodating said ratchet system protrudinglaterally from said second base, said ratchet system having a T-shapedbody including a head and a steam, said head protruding rearward andlaterally with respect to said pair of tabs, said stem having a freeend, said free end of said stem interacting with said toothed tab andbeing directed in the same direction as the free end of said lever arm..Iaddend..Iadd.5. Device for securing a first flap and a second flap ofan item of footwear, comprising a first base rigidly associable withsaid first flap, a pair of pivoting shoulders protruding from said firstbase and having pivotally connected thereto a lever arm, said lever armhaving a pivot connected to a support provided with a ratchet system forengagement with a toothed tab, said support having a first longitudinalslot, said lever having a second longitudinal slot, said firstlongitudinal slot and said second longitudinal slot accommodating saidpivot, said pivot selectively interacting with stop means, said stopmeans being defined on said shoulders, said toothed tab being removablyassociable with said second flap, said lever arm being provided with apair of tabs defining a seat for the temporary positioning of saidsupport provided with a ratchet system, said walls for accommodatingsaid ratchet system protruding laterally from said second base, saidratchet system having a T-shaped body including a head and a stem, saidhead protruding rearward and laterally with respect to said pair oftabs, said stem having a free end, said free end of said steminteracting with said toothed tab and being directed in the samedirection as the free end of said lever arm. .Iaddend.